Bills Introduced to Allow Federal Employees to Carryover More Annual Leave
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SUMMARY: Senator Hirono (D-HI) and Representatives Kilmer (D-WA) and
Wexton (D-VA) introduced the Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act of 2020, which
would ensure federal employees serving during the pandemic can carry over “use or
lose” annual leave.
As you know, under current law, federal employees who do not take their earned annual
leave are able to roll over up to 240 hours of their unused annual leave into the next calendar
year. This year, because of the pandemic and stay at home orders, many federal employees have
not and likely will not be able to use their earned annual leave and will lose any unused leave
they have earned over 240 hours at the end of the year.
While the Office of Personnel Management did make changes that would allow some
federal employees to carry over “use or lose” leave, it is limited to employees whose work is
designated as essential by their agency. This bill, introduced yesterday in the Senate by Senator
Hirono and in the House by Representatives Kilmer and Wexton, would ensure that any federal
employee serving during this pandemic, and any future pandemic, can carry over “use or lose”
leave, regardless of whether they have been designated as essential. As Senator Hirono said in
her statement introducing her bill, “All federal employees contribute to their agency’s mission,
regardless of the job they hold. No one should lose earned annual leave due to this pandemic.”
Similar language was included in the House-passed version of the National Defense
Authorization Act for FY 2021, H.R. 6395. NTEU is working closely with the bill’s sponsors
and urging Congress to move swiftly to pass the Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act to help
federal workers keep the leave they have earned serving the American people. I will keep you
posted with further developments
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